Pilot of helicopter that crashed in NYC and killed six people has been named as Navy SEAL veteran
Officials have named Navy SEAL veteran Sean Johnson as the pilot of the helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River in New York at 3:17 p.m. Eastern Time on April 10. The aircraft, operated by New York Helicopters, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, crashed with six people aboard, all of whom perished.
The passengers have been identified as Siemens executive Agustín Escobar from Barcelona, Spain; his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal; and their three children, aged 11, five, and four.
Michael Roth, 71, who owns the helicopter, told The Telegraph: "He [the pilot] radioed that he was landing and required fuel, and should have arrived in about three minutes, but he didn't show up after 20 minutes."
Before starting his aviation career in New York, Johnson worked as a bodyguard for celebrities. His wife, Kathryn Johnson, expressed her grief to The Gothamist: "I'm just at a loss for words. I don't even know what happened. It's just hard right now."
Johnson's colleague, Earl Watters, shared on Facebook: "With a heavy heart I post this... Thanks to everyone who has reached out to me. Yes, the pilot of the helicopter crash in NY was my co-pilot and great friend on Boomer last year, Sean Johnson. The world has lost an all-around great person and amazing friend. He definitely changed my life for the better, and I just want to celebrate his life and how he lived. Always and forever a Boomer crew member. Godspeed, amigo."
An eyewitness named Max told ABC News: "It sounded like a sonic boom, so I looked up and literally saw the helicopter splitting in two, with the rotor flying off into the sky. It was going so fast, and it just went straight into the water. Nothing came up afterward — it must have just sunk, and that was it. Then I just waited here, and like five minutes later we started seeing the police and stuff come. I've never seen anything like that in my life."
Max added: "At first, I just thought it was going to be like city noise — like a crash or maybe a jet going overhead — I know that's probably not common."
Max continued describing the incident: "But yeah, just like a big bang on my right, and then like a whoop whoop as you heard the propeller flying off much higher than the helicopter and falling straight into the water. I'm not certain — perhaps the tail broke away? But I definitely saw the rotor detach and the main body plunge directly into the water, so something must have failed with the rotor, and it simply came off completely."
